Yarn twisting apparatus



Sept. 26, 1961 N. E. KLEIN 3,001,356

YARN TWISTING APPARATUS Filed 001.. 23, 1957' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

NORMAN E. KLEIN BY FIG.

ATTORNEY P 1961 I N. E. KLEIN 3,001,356

YARN TWISTING APPARATUS FilBd 061.. 23, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 k E I? INVENTOR.

NORMAN E. KLEIN lax/f7 ATTORNEY Unite This invention relates to yarn twisting devices and more particularly to twisting machines of the type which impart two turns of twist to an endof yarn for each revolution of the twister spindle. This. application is a 'continuation-in-part of application Serial Number 244;

v812, filed September 1, 1951, now [1.8. Patent 2,811,013.

Heretofore, many attempts have been made to employ the two-for-one twisting principle as a means of increasing the rate of yarn production. In some instances, the gain in twisting rate was substantially ofiset by the required reduction in spindle speed in order to maintain the yarn balloon diameter within reasonable confines,.as

dictated by the gauge of existing standard commercial upright twisting frames. 1 have discovered, as set forth in U.S. Patent No. 2,731,786, that the two-for-one princil'ple can be employed to provide a twisting spindle that is compact in size and which will operate on standard commercial upright frames at substantially higher speeds than heretofore practiced with conventional one-for-one spindles, thereby increasing the rate of yarn production .from two to four times that of conventional spindles. While the twister described in Patent No. 2,731,785 is -a marked improvement over prior art devices, I have discovered further improvements, including an improved yarn storage device, which materially extend the usefulness of the twister.

It is known that in order to provide proper regulation of balloon tension and to maintain a constant balloon diameter for different types of yarn, it is necessary, when utilizing a conventional yarn storage device, to match 'the length of the lever arm with which the yarn balloon is driven, to the specific yarn being twisted and, since a conventional yarn storage device drives the yarn balloon through a constant length lever arm regardless of the amount of wrap-around on the yarn storage surface, it is generally necessary, in order to achieve proper bal- -loon tension regulation, to equip a spindle with a different yarn storage device for each paritcular type and weight of yarn processed. This means that if one desires to employ a spindle, equipped with a conventional yarn storage device, for the twisting of different types and sizes of yarns, it is necessary each time one desires to change the type or size of yarn being twisted to dismantle the spindle and, by trial and error, select a storagedevice which is proper for the particular yarn to be twisted. Even then uniform tension regulation may .not be achieved because ofthe lack of complete uniformity in the yarn being twisted.

According to the disclosure of the above-mentioned .copending application Serial Number 244,812, if an adjustable pretensioner is combined with a yarn storage device so constructed that the length of the lever arm through which the yarn balloon is driven increases as the degree of yarn wrap-around on the yarn storage device increases, the resulting combination can be employed with a wide range of types and weights of yarns. In other words, such a combination eliminates the necessity *of employing a different yarn storage device for each type of yarn to be twisted.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved yarn storage device which is compact in design, which may be readily fabricated, and which is so constructed "that a yarn balloon driven thereby is driven with a lever ice arm of increasing length as the degree of wrap-around on the storage device increases.

According to this invention there is provided a yarn storage device having at least one generally cylindrical yarn engaging surface positioned eccentrically with respect to the axis of rotation of the spindle, and means to guide an end of yarn from a central passageway in the spindle onto said generally cylindrical surface at substantially the point at which said surface is at the smallest radial distance from the spindle. As the degree to which the yarn wraps around the cylindrical surface varies, the length of the lever arm through which the yarn balloon is driven also varies due to the generally cylindrical surface being positioned eccentrically with respect to the axis of rotation of the spindle.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the yarn storage device is provided with at least two generally cylindrical surfaces both of which are eccentrically positioned with respect to the axis of rotation of the spindle, said two surfaces being of different diameters and being tangent to a single plane at the point Where the smaller cylindrical surface is at the greatest radial distance from the central axis of the spindle and at the point where the larger cylindrical surface is at the smallest radial distance from the central axis of the spindle. Guide means are provided for introducing the yarn onto the smaller of the two generally cylindrical surfaces at the point where it is at a minimum radial distance from the central axis of the spindle. If the yarn wraps around the thread storage device to a greater extent than it passes from the smaller of the two generally cylindrical surfaces to the larger at the point where the two are tangent to a single plane so that the lever arm with which the yarn balloon is driven increases as the degree of wrap-around increases through afull 360.

It is a feature of the invention that the improved yarn storage device is exceedingly compact and does not require any appreciable lengthening of the spindle to retain the same size yarn package as employed with a spindle utilizing a conventional yarn storage device. It is another feature of the invention that the novel yarn storage device is easily made with readily available machine tool equipment.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view, partially in elevation, of a two-for-one twister embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged elevational view of an improved yarn storage device according to the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the thread storage device of FIGURE 2 of the drawings.

With reference to the drawings in greater detail, the reference numeral 10 designates a portion of a conventional twister frame having an upstanding bracket 12 to which is hinged a swing gate 14 of conventional design. The swing gate 14 supports a bolster 16 resiliently clamped to an extension 17 of the swing gate by a nut 18 hearing against a spring 26' disposed about the bolster. Further resiliency is obtained by the use of a felt washer 22 and afelt sleeve 24 disposed as shown.

Supported by the bolster 16 is an upstanding shaft 25 about which is iournaled a spindle member generally indicated by the reference numeral 28. The spindle member 28 is carried by ball bearings 3t and 32 so that it may be rapidly rotated by contact of a whorl portion 34 with any suitable driving means (not illustrated) such as a belt or the like. The spindle member 28 is provided at its upper end with an upstanding extension 36, which carries a cup-shaped support platform 38, having a-conaccuses 3 centric upstanding tubular central portion 40. The support-platform 38 is freely rotatable with respect to spindle 28 by virtue of an anti-friction bearing, such as ball bean ing 42, and is normally stabilized against rotation with the spindle by any suitable conventional means (not illustrated). The support platform is retained in fixed relationship tothe outer race of bearing 42 by means of an elongated sleeve member 44 which circumscribes the bearing 42 and which is in threadwise engagement with the outer peripheral surface of the tubular central portion 4b of platform 33, and by means of an elongated cylindrical member as which is positioned parially Within sleeve member 44 and which threadably engages the inner surface ofthe sleeve member 44, near itsupper end. When cylindrical member 46 is screwed downwardly, theouter race-of the bearing 42 is firmly clampedbetween the upper end of the central portion 49' of the support platform 33 and the lower end of cylindrical member 46. Rubber rings 43 and d are disposed on either side ofthe outer race of ball bearing a2 to provide resiliency so-that high frequency vibrations are not transmitted from thespindle 28 to the support platform 33.

The cylindrical member 46 serves as a housing for a gate-type tension regulator, generally indicated by the reference numeral 52, and as a support fora conical yarn {guide 54 which is provided with a central yarn passageway 56 so that an end of yarn may be passedrfrom ;a supply package 58, carried by the platform 38, through the guide 54 to the tension regulator 52. A cover 66, preferably formed of transparent plastic material, is carried by the support platform 33 andencloses the supply package 58. The cover 60 is illustrated as being provided with an internally protruding annular member 62 which slightly biases the yarn, as it passes from supply package 58 to apex guide 54, from a straight line path to thereby pretension the yarn and prevent the same from snarling.

Positioned within and supported by cylindrical member Adisayarn guide tube 64 which serves to guide the yarn from tension regulator 52 to an axially extending-yarn passageway 66 in extension 36. The passageway 66 terminates at its lower end as an orifice in the peripheral wall of extension 36 and fitted into this orifice is a yarn guide member 68 which serves to lead an end of yarn from passageway 66 onto a yarn storage device generally indicated by the reference numeral 76. The yarn storage device is here illustrated as being formed separately and is attached to the spindle 2% by any suitable means but the storage device may constitute an integral part of the spindle if desired.

The yarn storage device 7%} comprises a flange-like memberhaving a firstgenerally cylindrical yarn engaging surface 72 positioned eccentrically with respect to the central axis of the spindle 28, and a second generally cylindrical yarn engaging surface 74, of larger diameter than the surface 72 which is disposed in diametrically opposite relationship to the first surface and suchthat surface 74 is in subsequent yarnfiow relationship with re- .spectto the surface 72. At one locality 75 in their pegenerally cylindrical surface at the smallest radial dislance from the central axis of the spindle. Onelendlof the yarn guide member 68 is positioned within a notch in the lower surface of the yarn storage device 70 and the notch is so positioned that the yarn fromthe passageway 66 passes onto the cylindrical surface 72 at substantially the point at which the surface is at the smallest radial distance from the central axis of the spindle 28.

Secured to the yarn storage device 7t) by any suitable .means, such as rivets 76, is an annular, dish-shaped member 78 which generally conforms to the shape of the lower surface of the support platform 38 and whichjs -spaced slightly thenefrom. Themember 7S serves to assist in shaping the yarn balloon as it passes between yarn storage device Wandaguide member 83 positioned on the extended axis of thespindle 28, and also serves to prevent the yarn from rubbing against the surface of the support platform. The outer surface of the member 78 snould besmoothly-polished-so that it offers as little frictional resistance as possible to the yarn in contact therewith.

In operation, an end of yarn is passed from supply aclrage 53 through the passageway 56 to the tension regulator '52 and is thereafter passed through yarn guide tube 64 and yarn passageway -66 to the yarn storage device 70. 'The coverfiil is then placed in position andthe yarn is passed about the peripheral edge of dish-shaped member 78, through guide 84} and to a conventional-take up means, not illustrated. The spindle and take-up means are then placedin operation. If the yarn balloon, due to inadequate tension in the yarn, should grow too large, the increased resistanceto the rotation of the balloon, as a result oftheyarn moving through the air, causes-the rate ofc-rotation of the yarn balloon tosmomentarilylag behind the rate ofrotation of-the-spindleso that a length of yarnis-wrapped around the yarn-storage device. This increases the tension required to withdraw theyarnirom the supply-package 58 into the yarn balloon so-that;the centrifugal forceurging enlargement of the balloon is overcome-and the balloon tendsto return to a proper size- The above istrue, however, only if the distance .of the thread :storage .surfacefrom the axis oflrotation of the spindle, at the point I the yarn departs therefrom ito enter theyarn balloon, is-the requiredrtofurnish a lever :annjust sufficient to drive a balloon-ofthe desired size atthe-rate at which the spindle is rotated, and it will be seen, therefore, that balloons resulting from yarns of difierentsi-zes or weights must be driven through ditferent'length lever arms in order to obtain a stabilized balloon of the propersize. 'Thiscan' be readily achieved with a spindle as above described. If theaverage amount of wrap-around on the thread-storage device'is-too great so'tha t the lever arm through whichthe yarn balloon is driven is suflicient to drive a balloon of a'larger size than desired, it-is only necessary to increase thetension imparted to the yarn by regulator 52 so that a smaller portion of the total tension in the yarn need be imparted yarn balloon is not being driven through an adequate lever arm and the-degree of average wrap-around of the thread storage device should beincreased by decreasing the tension imparted to'theyarn by regulator 52. Since the yarn passes-from the first generally cylindrical surface 72 to the largensecond generallycylindrical'surface 74 Whenthe-degree of wrap-around on the storage *device exceeds ,the lever armthrough which the yarn balloon is driven can, by adjustment of the tension-regulator 52, be varied from a length equal to substantially the mmjmumradial distance of {surface 72 from the-axis of rotation of the spindletoa'length equal to substantially the maximum radial distance of surface 74 from the axis of rotation. It will be seen, therefore, that by-the utilization of stepped, generally cylindrical surfaces, a yarn storage device according to this invention provides a wide range of lever armlengths for driving the yarn balloon -.and-yet requires little if any more space than a conventional constant diameter yarn storage device.

Having-thus described my invention, what I desire-to claim and secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a two-for-one twister including a rotatable spindle, a variable wrap angle yarn storage balloon shape and tensioncontrol device carried by and rotatable-with sai spindl and hav ng t lea o cu a r tat bl assists yarn engaging surface positioned eccentrically with respect to the axis of rotation of said spindle, the axis of said spindle lying within the bounding surface of said circular yarn engaging surface for wrapping of yarn thereon about said axis.

2. In a two-for-one twister having a rotatable spindle, a yarn storage member carried by said spindle to drive a yarn balloon, said yarn storage member having first and second generally cylindrical surfaces, said first and second cylindrical surfaces being disposed, in each instance, eccentrically with respect to the axis of rotation of said spindle, said second generally cylindrical surface being of larger diameter than said first cylindrical surface and being disposed in subsequent yarn flow relationship with respect to said first generally cylindrical yarn engaging surface, and said first and second yarn engaging surfaces merging into a continuous surface at one locality in their peripheries, the locality of the merger including the point on said first generally cylindrical surface at the greatest radial distance from the axis of rotation of said spindle and the point on said second generally cylindrical surface at the smallest radial distance from the axis of rotation of said spindle.

3. In a two-for-one twister including a rotatable spindle and an annular member to assist in determining the shape of the yarn balloon, a yarn storage member carried by said spindle adjacent said annular member, said yarn storage member having at least one generally cylindrical yarn engaging surface of appreciably smaller diameter than the diameter of said annular member, said generally cylindrical surface being positioned eccentrically with respect to the axis of rotation of said spindle, said spindle being provided with an axially extending yarn passageway terminating at one end as an orifice in the peripheral surface of said spindle, and means to guide an end of yarn from said orifice onto said generally cylindrical yarn engaging surface at substantially the point at which said surface is at the smallest radial distance from the central axis of said spindle.

4. In a two-for-one twister for yarn, a rotatable spindie, a dish-shaped member to assist in determining the shape of the yarn balloon, a yarn storage member carried by said spindle adjacent said dish-shaped member, said yarn storage member having a first generally cylindrical yarn engaging surface positioned eccentrically with respect to the axis of rotation of said spindle and a second generally cylindrical yarn engaging surface, of larger diameter than said first generally cylindrical surface, disposed between said first cylindrical surface and said dishshaped member, said second generally cylindrical yarn engaging surface also being positioned eccentrically with. respect to the axis of rotation of said spindle, said first and second generally cylindrical surfaces merging into a continuous surface at one locality in their peripheries, the locality of the merger including the point on said first generally cylindrical surface at the greatest radial distance from the central axis of said spindle and the point on said second generally cylindrical surface at the smallest radial distance from the central axis of said spindle, said spindle being provided with an axially extending yarn passageway terminating at one end as an orifice in the peripheral surface of said spindle, and guide means to guide an end of yarn from said orifice onto said first generally cylindrical surface at substantially the point at which said first generally cylindrical surface is at the smallest radial distance from the central axis of said spindle.

5. An improved yarn storage device for textile machines having a rotatable spindle with a central passageway terminating at one end as an orifice in the peripheral Wall of said spindle; said improved yarn. storage device comprising a flange-like member carried by said spindle, said flange-like member having at least. one generally cylindrical yarn engaging surface positioned eccentrically with respect to the axis of rotation of said spindle, and guide means to guide an end of yarn from said orifice onto said generally cylindrical yarn engaging surface at substantially the point at which said surface is at the smallest radial distance from the central axis of said spindle.

6. An improved yarn storage device for textile machines including a rotatable spindle having a centrally extending passageway terminating at one end as an orifice in the peripheral wall of said spindle; said yarn storage device comprising a flange-like member carried by said spindle, said flange-like member having a first generally cylindrical yarn engaging surface positioned eccentrically with respect to the axis of said spindle, and a second generallycylindrical yarn engaging surface of larger diameter than said first yarn engaging surface, said second generally cylindrical yarn engaging surface also being positioned eccentrically with respect to the axis of said spindle, said first and second generally cylindrical surfaces merging into a continuous surface at one locality in their peripheries, the locality of the merger including the point on said first generally cylindrical surface at the greatest radial distance from the central axis of said spindle and the point on said second generally cylindrical surface at the smallest radial. distance from the central axis of said spindle, and guide means to guide an end of yarn from said orifice onto said first generally cylindrical yarn engaging surface at substantially the point at which said first generally cylindrical surface is at the smallest radial distance from the central axis of said spindle.

7. In a yarn processing apparatus including a rotatable spindle, a variable wrap angle yarn storage balloon shape and tension control device carried by and rotatable with said spindle and having at least one circular rotatable yarn engaging surface positioned eccentrically with respect to the axis of rotation of said spindle, the axis of said spindle lying within the bounding surface of said circular yarn engaging surface for wrapping of yarn thereon about said axis.

8. The combination according to claim 7 wherein said yam processing apparatus is a twister.

9. The combination according to claim 7 including two of said eccentrically positioned circular surfaces, the center of each of said surfaces lying within the bounding surface of the other of said circular surfaces.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,900,037 Bochmann et al Mar. 7, 1933 2,641,896 Landolt June 16, 1953 2,727,353 Vibber Dec. 20, 1955 2,869,314 Vibber Jan. 20, 1959 

